Kafeel's death devastates family

The family of Kafeel Ahmed, who died in a British hospital early on Friday morning, is in a state of shock.

Over 20 hours have passed since Kafeel died, but his family in Bangalore claim that they have not yet received any official word from the authorities in London.

The lawyer for the family, B T Venkatesh, confirmed this and added that the family will not be able to comment unless there is a confirmation. He, however, adds that unless there is an official communication, there is hope for the family.

The family does not disown Kafeel while they only pray and hope it was not him, he added.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Kafeel's mother, Dr Zakia Ahmed, told her relatives to pray that it is not her son who the UK police were talking about. Earlier in the day, she is supposed to have said that till date she doubts that it is her son that they are talking about.

The family it is learnt has not contacted any of the mosques in Bangalore to conduct the last rites for Kafeel. Family sources ask, 'where is the question of contacting the mosque, when the parents refuse to believe that it their son?'

They, however, are devastated by the turn of events, because deep within Dr Zakia has a suspicion that the Glasglow bomber is her son.

Sabeel has been held in UK for allegedly concealing information about the UK terror plot. Last week on seeing the images of Kafeel Ahmed, the mother has said that she is doubtful that the man in the picture could be her

son, Kafeel Ahmed. She doubted if her son's face was that plump.

Kafeel

Ahmed, an engineer from Bangalore had driven a burning jeep into the Glasgow international airport. The UK police had named him as a prime suspect. Close friends say that he was a mild person and very studious. A close look at Kafeel's activities since his college days goes on to show that he was the member of a radical Islam group.

His

friends say that there was a gradual change in his attitude during his college days. He became more reserved and preached about Islam most of the time.

An

aeronautical engineer with a PhD from the United Kingdom, Kafeel is alleged to be the chief designer of the car bombs used in the attack. He did his engineering from the UBTD College in Davangere, 250 km from Bangalore. His friends say that he always wanted to design planes and his ultimate dream was to work in the UK.

Dr Siddeshwara, the in-charge

principle of the college said that he remembered Kafeel as a very mild boy. He however added that Kafeel had a lot of leadership qualities.

Before leaving Bangalore for the UK on May 5 2007, he is said to have told his family that he was starting work on a confidential project and hence could not be reached both on telephone or e-mail.

He however had assured that nothing would happen to him and there was nothing to worry.

During

the last conversation he had with his mother Dr Zakia Ahmed, he said his work would be complete in a month and then he would return to Bangalore.

Kafeel

is the elder son of Dr Maqbool Ahmed and Dr Zakia Ahmed, residents of Banashankari in Bangalore.